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We tapped in with a few yoga-teacher friends for a yoga book list that has a little something for everyone: new beginners looking for reliable, inclusive instruction, yoga students who want to deepen their understanding of anatomy and philosophy, and, for those who like a good story, entertaining memoirs. We hope you find information, inspiration, and a laugh or two!
Best Yoga Books for Beginners
When you first get interested in yoga, there’s a lot of new information to take on board. Supplement your practice with reading materials that reinforce yoga’s accessibility, concepts, and basic poses.
Yoga for Everyone by Dianne Bondi
Quick Summary: Variations on 50 poses for beginners
Why this Book:
It’s really all in the name: this is Yoga for Everyone. Dianne Bondi’s book introduces basic yoga poses and offers guidance on how to use props to facilitate safe adaptations for a variety of bodies. If you’re unsure if yoga can work for your body, this book has the answer (it’s yes!).
One Simple Thing by Eddie Stern
Quick Summary: Why yoga works as a path for transformation
Why this Book:
Yoga history, philosophy, and poses meet modern scientific understanding of how the body and brain function to produce this highly readable analysis of why yoga is such an effective method.
Best Yoga Philosophy Books
Enrich your practice by learning about the ancient philosophical foundations of contemporary yoga.
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
Quick Summary: 195 aphorisms about yoga, including the eight limbs of yoga. Written between the first and fourth centuries CE.
Why this Book:
The foundational text for so much of what we know as yoga today. It offers timeless wisdom on living with purpose, clarity, and inner peace, and I return to it again and again for inspiration in both practice and life. - Hannah Barrett
The Secret of the Yoga Sutra by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait
Quick Summary: An interpretation of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras from the head of the Himalayan Institute
Why this Book:
Tigunait provides a verse-by-verse commentary on the Yoga Sutras, translating key Sanskrit terms and unpacking the Eight Limbs of yoga. He connects classical philosophy to modern life, offering practical guidance on ethical foundations (yama and niyama), concentration (dharana), and meditation (dhyana). - Dylan Werner
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
Quick Summary: A guidebook on how to live in society with greater grace and happiness
Why this Book:
While not a yoga text, its wisdom aligns beautifully with yogic philosophy. These simple but powerful agreements have transformed the way I live, teach, and connect with others. - Hannah Barrett
Best Inspirational Books
Poetry, art, and advice that fills your inspiration cup.
Be Here Now by Ram Dass
Quick Summary: An artwork and cultural artifact
Why this Book:
This 1971 book is a visual trip through the life and transformation of Ram Dass, also known as Dr Richard Alpert, Ph.D. Open to any page and prepare to have your worldview shifted.
Devotions by Mary Oliver
Quick Summary: A collection of the American poet’s favourite works
Why this Book:
When in doubt, reach for Mary Oliver, contemporary yoga’s unofficial poet laureate. She distils the wisdom of nature until everything makes sense again.
Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers
Quick Summary: Highly actionable techniques for overcoming fears that hold you back
Why this Book:
If you're unhappy, fear of change or fear of the unknown can keep you stuck in that unhappy place. But the mantra "I'll handle it" reminds us that we can get out of an unhappy job, a bad relationship, or just chase a wild dream, even if it's scary to do so. - Adell Bridges
Best for Yoga Teachers
Teaching yoga is more than presenting a sequence of poses. This book helps teachers deepen their knowledge and better reach their students.
Light on Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar
Quick Summary: Iyengar’s visual catalogue of over 200 poses
Why this Book:
A true classic, Light on Yoga is the ultimate reference for yoga postures. From its comprehensive introduction to its Sanskrit dictionary, this book is a historical document and invaluable resource from one of the primary teachers who popularized yoga in the West.
The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga by Jivana Heyman
Quick Summary: How yoga teachers can improve accessibility for their students
Why this Book:
A brilliant, practical resource that helps teachers make yoga truly accessible to every body, which is truly my mission. This is a book every teacher needs to read; it’s full of insights and tools for creating inclusive, welcoming spaces for all students. - Hannah Barrett
A book for every teacher that explores accessible language, inclusive teaching, and how to create a culture of compassion. - Kathryn Budig
Best Yoga Books for Science Lovers
For those who want to better understand the body and its systems through a yoga lens.
Science of Yoga by Ann Swanson
Quick Summary: Easy-to-understand illustrations of yoga anatomy and associated systems of the body
Why this Book:
If you’ve ever wanted to know how each yoga pose affects your body, this is the book for you. The colour-coded illustrations break down the role of each clearly labelled muscle group in a way that makes sense. Lots of additional information on the systems of the body and therapeutic sequences make this book especially useful.
Yoga Anatomy by Leslie Kaminoff and Amy Matthews
Quick Summary: Anatomical drawings of yoga poses
Why this Book:
The classic yoga anatomy book from expert teachers Kaminoff and Matthews, with an emphasis on how the breath works in each posture. Especially good for those who like to get technical.
Breath by James Nestor
Quick Summary: Why the way you breathe affects your whole body
Why this Book:
Part research review and analysis, part auto-experimentation, Breath answers so many questions about the importance of respiration and how to do it better. Bonus points to Nestor for being on the cutting edge of the mouth-tape craze.
The Brain that Changes Itself by Norman Doidge
Quick Summary: Stories and research on neuroplasticity
Why this Book:
A great foundation for understanding just how adaptable the human brain is. It's full of stories and science about people who have gone beyond what common knowledge tells us about the human ability to change. It cemented in my mind at least that "nothing is permanent," and with this incredible organ between our ears dictating every single aspect of how we experience life and move through life, we can always work to change the things that aren't working for us. - Adell Bridges
Best Yoga Memoirs
True stories about the transformational power of yoga from great writers with a sense of humor.
Yoke by Jessamyn Stanley
Quick Summary: A series of essays from yoga and meditation teacher and writer Jessamyn Stanley
Why this Book:
Raw, gritty, and filled with humor, Jessamyn encompasses what it means to walk the path of yoga through exploring race, sexuality, and self-love. - Kathryn Budig
Yoga School Dropout by Lucy Edge
Quick Summary: Lucy travels to India for a yoga training and gets something different than what she expected.
Why this Book:
Author Lucy Edge shares her journey from a high-pressure advertising career in London to the ashrams of India in search of spiritual enlightenment. This book is the perfect blend of humor and heart – it's laugh-out-loud funny, yet full of philosophical insights and wisdom. I love it because it's not only entertaining, but also deeply reflective. - Anna Sugarman
Poser by Claire Dederer
Quick Summary: An extremely well-written, personal, and relatable memoir,
Why this Book:
Using yoga poses as a scaffold, Dederer moves through her life story. She negotiates her unconventional upbringing, the difficult points in her marriage, and her evolving feelings about her career after motherhood. Yoga proves to be the catalyst for Dederer's transformation, as she lets go of her quest for perfection, both in yoga and in life.
Beautiful Monster: A Becoming by Miles Borrero
Quick Summary: A tale of transition from a gifted storyteller and longtime yoga teacher.
Why this Book:
Written by senior yoga teacher Miles Borrero, this magical memoir shows how we can dismantle systems within ourselves that keep us small. - Kathryn Budig
Best Yoga History Books
Yoga has ancient roots, but its path to your mat has been anything but direct. Learning about the history of yoga from a variety of sources helps you practice with knowledge and respect.
Embrace Yoga’s Roots by Susanna Barkataki
Quick Summary: A practical guide to honoring yoga’s origins
Why this Book:
An essential read for understanding yoga’s history, philosophy, and cultural context. It’s a call to honour the roots of yoga while making it relevant and alive in our modern world. - Hannah Barrett
Yoga Body by Mark Singleton
Quick Summary: An academic study of the ancient and more modern history of postural yoga.
Why this Book:
A scholarly look at the origins of the physical practice of yoga and how it arrived at the yoga studio around the corner. Fascinating, though somewhat dense, and full of primary source evidence.
Bonus: Yoga Books from Liforme Ambassadors
Yoga Happy: Simple Tools and Practices for Everyday Calm and Strength by Hannah Barrett
Too Flexible to Feel Good: A Practical Roadmap to Managing Hypermobility by Adell Bridges and Celest Pereira
Aim True: Love Your Body, Eat Without Fear, Nourish Your Spirit, Discover True Balance! By Kathryn Budig
Big Book of Yoga by Kathryn Budig
A Beginner's Guide to the Roots of Yoga: How to Create a More Authentic Practice by Nikita Desai
Make Believe: Poems for Hoping Again by Victoria Hutchins
The Illuminated Breath: Transform Your Physical, Cognitive & Emotional Well-Being by Harnessing the Science of Ancient Yoga Breath Practices by Dylan Werner
Kilted Yoga: Yoga Laid Bare by Finlay Wilson
Wild Kilted Yoga: Flow and Feel Free by Finlay Wilson
Adapting Chair Yoga for Every Body by Finlay Wilson
Benefits of Reading Yoga Books
Deepen Understanding
The more you do yoga, the more you want to know about it. Follow your curiosity to enrich your knowledge of yoga philosophy, asana, and history. Our recommendations are just a starting place in yoga’s rich and varied canon.
Find Common Ground
Reading about others’ yoga experiences helps foster a feeling of connection to the larger yoga community.
Learn at Your Own Pace
Yoga teacher trainings will include many of these books, among others. Create your own syllabus to enrich your physical practice.
Yoga Books FAQs
What is the best yoga book for beginners?
We recommend Dianne Bondi’s Yoga for Everyone, but there are lots of options in this area. Head to your local library or bookstore and browse the shelves.
Can yoga books replace classes?
What you experience in class and read in books support and cross-pollinate each other.
What type of yoga books are most inspiring?
We like memoirs because each person’s story is unique yet relatable. However, you might find your inspiration in philosophy, science, or poetry. Follow your instinctive curiosity!
What is the difference between yoga practice books and yoga philosophy books?
Practice books focus on yoga poses and sequences, while philosophy books look into yoga’s origins and primary texts.
